Wife was on vacation as well on Friday and we slept in. I didn't think I was that tired, but slept a very long time, and well. Then I also went back to my work day practice of drinking more water than I used to (started a couple of months ago). Between the two, I felt 100% again by about 5 PM. I really have to be more careful about this.
My ability to play music seems to be a useful barometer. On Friday night I was easily playing things I was having trouble with earlier in the week. I was just attributing it to having a couple of bad days. Sometimes, you've just got to take care of yourself, and I don't always do a good job of that.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
In a Weird Place Right Now
On vacation this week, and yet not getting a damn thing done. I was utterly focused on working on the outside of the house since July/August, and this past weekend, we brought in the professionals to finish the job (at least until spring). So I was looking forward to having some time to actually choose what I was going to do.
Instead, I've frittered away the mornings looking over internet news, etc., and the afternoons watching movies and getting a minimal amount of musical practice done. Nothing feels right, and I'm not playing well. I've actually felt a little shaky at times for no apparent reason and generally listless, not wanting to do anything. I usually get restless after a few days sitting around the house and want to do something, but not this week. Wife's theory is that I'm fighting off a flu bug or something. I have gotten a lot of rest and feel better now than I did earlier in the week. This all comes at a time when I feel as though I'm gaining some real insight into Life and learning to function better, making it all the more mystifying.
I think some of it is that I'd grown accustomed to not having more than minimal free time for several months there, and now I have to adapt again to making choices. Funny, really, if it's that. Hopefully I can do better over the next few days before I have to return to work, because I'm going to have to work more over Thanksgiving weekend than most people do, for various reasons.
Instead, I've frittered away the mornings looking over internet news, etc., and the afternoons watching movies and getting a minimal amount of musical practice done. Nothing feels right, and I'm not playing well. I've actually felt a little shaky at times for no apparent reason and generally listless, not wanting to do anything. I usually get restless after a few days sitting around the house and want to do something, but not this week. Wife's theory is that I'm fighting off a flu bug or something. I have gotten a lot of rest and feel better now than I did earlier in the week. This all comes at a time when I feel as though I'm gaining some real insight into Life and learning to function better, making it all the more mystifying.
I think some of it is that I'd grown accustomed to not having more than minimal free time for several months there, and now I have to adapt again to making choices. Funny, really, if it's that. Hopefully I can do better over the next few days before I have to return to work, because I'm going to have to work more over Thanksgiving weekend than most people do, for various reasons.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Splunge - 11/13/2011
Jason, Sal, Nick and I all on board again. I really wish we could keep it going solidly every other week at least, but especially as we approach the holidays, it's hard for all of us to be available. It's going to be another month at least, and the next time it's going to be my fault because I'm going to a wedding.
Jason showed up a little worn around the edges and apparently not in the mood to play. He wasn't terrible, but definitely wasn't at his best. At least one of the guitars was far too loud throughout the session (I think it was Nick) and we went back to some of our bad habits. Vocals were erratic (even on the songs Nick and I know cold) because we were having a hard time hearing ourselves. I turned the bass down to try to encourage everybody else to do the same, and naturally, they didn't. I should have just said what was on my mind.
We again passed on "Surrender" and "Space Oddity" because Nick and Jason still weren't prepared for them. Nick had lost power at this house for nearly a week, so he had some legitimate reason. Jason has just lost his focus for a while, by his own admission.
Sounds pretty negative the way I'm writing this, but it wasn't all bad. In fact, the overall sound was in the top four sessions or so since we've been playing, in spite of the negative aspects to it. We played our best versions ever of a couple of songs, most notably "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with the group riff, and "Psycho Killer". I continued playing aggressively (if too quiet) and made some changes to my bass sound based on an article I'd read, and really liked the difference.
We discussed trying to do a medley involving REM's "Orange Crush", since all agreed that the song doesn't go much of anywhere as originally performed, and tentatively agreed to go from that song into the Theme from Shaft (probably with just Jason and I), then on to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out". I'm not sure how that will actually pan out, but it'd be something really different for us.
Jason showed up a little worn around the edges and apparently not in the mood to play. He wasn't terrible, but definitely wasn't at his best. At least one of the guitars was far too loud throughout the session (I think it was Nick) and we went back to some of our bad habits. Vocals were erratic (even on the songs Nick and I know cold) because we were having a hard time hearing ourselves. I turned the bass down to try to encourage everybody else to do the same, and naturally, they didn't. I should have just said what was on my mind.
We again passed on "Surrender" and "Space Oddity" because Nick and Jason still weren't prepared for them. Nick had lost power at this house for nearly a week, so he had some legitimate reason. Jason has just lost his focus for a while, by his own admission.
Sounds pretty negative the way I'm writing this, but it wasn't all bad. In fact, the overall sound was in the top four sessions or so since we've been playing, in spite of the negative aspects to it. We played our best versions ever of a couple of songs, most notably "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with the group riff, and "Psycho Killer". I continued playing aggressively (if too quiet) and made some changes to my bass sound based on an article I'd read, and really liked the difference.
We discussed trying to do a medley involving REM's "Orange Crush", since all agreed that the song doesn't go much of anywhere as originally performed, and tentatively agreed to go from that song into the Theme from Shaft (probably with just Jason and I), then on to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out". I'm not sure how that will actually pan out, but it'd be something really different for us.
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